Butternut squash recipes

treehopper1987
treehopper1987 Posts: 505 Member
edited November 26 in Recipes
What are some yummy butternut squash recipes? I made a chili with it last night that was pretty delicious, but have a lot of the squash left over.

Note: I do not really like the taste of butternut squash, but buy it because my son does (yes he eats healthier than me lol). I think it is really sweet so I'd like a recipe that doesn't really add to the sweetness.

Any suggestions?

TIA

Replies

  • dawnmcneil10
    dawnmcneil10 Posts: 638 Member
    I don't really have recipes as I just create stuff as I go but some of my favorite things with butternut squash are on the savory side.

    I add spices like sage, garlic, celery salt, black pepper, cumin as well as use onion and apple or apple cider for additional flavoring to make a bisque. Just basically puree everything then add your cream ingredient as you heat it through.

    You can also puree and add to sauces, it's great in pasta sauce, makes a great base for pizza instead of a tomato sauce. Think red onions, sausage, sundried tomatoes, roasted red pepper these are all fabulous with butternut squash.

    Toss it into lasagna, add a layer to shepards pie heck you can even use it in recipes like you would applesauce.

    I didn't like squash either until I discovered how fabulous it tasted without maple and brown sugar. :wink:
  • treehopper1987
    treehopper1987 Posts: 505 Member
    I like to experiment too, @dawnmcneil10. It seems like most recipes I find online are all about adding in the brown sugar and cinnamon, and I just feel like it is way too sweet after that, and my weakness is sweets.
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    edited November 2015
    Puree it with onion, garlic and maybe sage and use it as a pasta sauce. You can even add a dollop of ricotta.

    Oops, didn't see that @dawnmcneil10 recommended that!
  • treehopper1987
    treehopper1987 Posts: 505 Member
    That must mean it's good @Queenmunchy.
  • bluefish86
    bluefish86 Posts: 842 Member
    Look up "butternut squash fries". Delicious.
  • iamworthy14
    iamworthy14 Posts: 413 Member
    Cube it...with chopped red onion and bell peppers mix olive oil an lil bit of balsamic vinegar mix all together salt n pepper to taste bake on a cookie sheet at 450
  • brefeiler
    brefeiler Posts: 5 Member
    Shred it with a grater or food processor along with an egg and 1/4 cup of bread crumbs. Put it in a non stick skillet with some oil or butter and make a hash out of it! So yummy and made it tonight
  • brefeiler
    brefeiler Posts: 5 Member
  • curlyslim
    curlyslim Posts: 64 Member
    butternut squash soup and can add chilli to offset the sweetness.
    Butternut squash in a moroccan dish- i've been meaning to do this myself for a couple of weeks now.
    You could just roast it and freeze to use for later? or just nibble on?
  • PaulaAgius395
    PaulaAgius395 Posts: 1 Member
    There is a really good shepards pie recipe on hungry girl website that I have made a bunch of times.
  • treehopper1987
    treehopper1987 Posts: 505 Member
    I ended up making sauce over pasta. It was okay... needed a lot of salt to taste decent. Thanks everyone for the ideas. :)
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    I ended up making sauce over pasta. It was okay... needed a lot of salt to taste decent. Thanks everyone for the ideas. :)

    I usually use a little bit of better than bouillon paste and top with parmesan.
  • maryjay52
    maryjay52 Posts: 557 Member
    cube it up, microwave till slightly cooked.. fry in some coconut oil and onions with some salt and pepper ..
  • treehopper1987
    treehopper1987 Posts: 505 Member
    I ended up making sauce over pasta. It was okay... needed a lot of salt to taste decent. Thanks everyone for the ideas. :)

    I usually use a little bit of better than bouillon paste and top with parmesan.

    I added fresh grated parmesan on top which helped. :-)
  • moyerbook
    moyerbook Posts: 2 Member
    Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Cranberries and Pecans. See photo and recipe on Face Book at The Fairfield House. Looks really good and only added sweetener is maple syrup, which you can add as you see fit.
  • Jgdiane
    Jgdiane Posts: 599 Member
    Could peel, cube, steam, bake or microwave til cooked, and mash. Then experiment with using it in muffins, cookies, pancakes, even pie (in place of sweet potatoes or pumpkin). I microwave cubed butternut squash and when cooked (but not mushy) drizzle a tiny bit of pure maple syrup on it and sometimes a bit of cinnamon. Hubby and I just had this for lunch today.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,831 Member
    edited November 2015
    To cook the squash an easy/lazy way, I just score or poke the skin a bit to prevent explosion, wrap it in foil, put it in a dish to collect any leaks, and bake at any temp between 300 and 400 until a fork pokes through easily. Then you can cut it in half, remove the seeds and stringy stuff, and the meat of the squash just scoops easily out of the skin.

    I usually do this when I'm cooking something else -- that's why I give a range of temps. If you cook it a day or so before you need it, you can just toss it in the fridge while still in the foil. That way it's cold and easy to handle when you want to scoop it out. I often put things like foil-wrapped squash, beets, sweet potatoes, etc. in the oven around other things to use up to three days later.

    You can use squash cooked this way in any recipe that calls for mashing the squash. I like to make soup or pasta sauce out of it. When I'm being reckless with carbs, I turn it into ravioli filling or gnocchi.
  • MsJulesRenee
    MsJulesRenee Posts: 1,180 Member
    edited November 2015
    To cook the squash an easy/lazy way, I just score or poke the skin a bit to prevent explosion, wrap it in foil, put it in a dish to collect any leaks, and bake at any temp between 300 and 400 until a fork pokes through easily. Then you can cut it in half, remove the seeds and stringy stuff, and the meat of the squash just scoops easily out of the skin.

    I usually do this when I'm cooking something else -- that's why I give a range of temps. If you cook it a day or so before you need it, you can just toss it in the fridge while still in the foil. That way it's cold and easy to handle when you want to scoop it out. I often put things like foil-wrapped squash, beets, sweet potatoes, etc. in the oven around other things to use up to three days later.

    You can use squash cooked this way in any recipe that calls for mashing the squash. I like to make soup or pasta sauce out of it. When I'm being reckless with carbs, I turn it into ravioli filling or gnocchi.

    Thanks! Cutting the thing is such a pain when it is raw!! I usually avoid squash because of this reason, unless I can find it pre-cut. Never thought of throwing it whole into the oven.

    OP, I slice chop mine into squares, add to bowl with a little olive oil, salt and pepper, cook at around 350 degrees until soft. Sometimes I add cajun seasoning
  • drnlo
    drnlo Posts: 3 Member
    I recently oven roasted some with just a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper. I diced it first, put on baking sheet, added olive oil S&P, roasted at 425 degrees until tender. It was done in about 20 mins. Yummy!
  • treehopper1987
    treehopper1987 Posts: 505 Member
    drnlo wrote: »
    I recently oven roasted some with just a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper. I diced it first, put on baking sheet, added olive oil S&P, roasted at 425 degrees until tender. It was done in about 20 mins. Yummy!

    I've tried this before and was not satisfied. The sweetness was still too much.
  • ald783
    ald783 Posts: 688 Member
    I love butternut squash and put it in seemingly everything, most of which is more savory than sweet. Here are some favorites:

    http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/butternut-squash-alfredo-baked-shells-recipe/
    https://www.weightwatchers.com/food/rcp/recipepage.aspx?recipeid=182411 (I also add turkey sausage and spinach this one)
    http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/11/pasta-with-butternut-sauce-spicy.html
    http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/11/butternut-squash-and-black-bean.html
    http://www.emilybites.com/2012/09/butternut-squash-soup.html

    I also made a butternut squash & farro salad the other day, the recipe came from Us Weekly or something random so I don't have a link, but it was squash, farro, toasted almonds, raisins, gouda, arugula, and the dressing was a mix of mustard, sherry vinegar and cayenne. Really good! Eating leftovers for lunch as we speak.
  • queenofpuppies
    queenofpuppies Posts: 189 Member
    Butternut Squash Soup:

    peal the squash and cut it into cubes. Dice one onion and a red and a green bell pepper. In a large pot saute onions and peppers in some oil or butter until you get a slight brown on them. If you have it around, add some fresh sage. Toss in the squash. Add broth or water until everything is covered by an inch of liquid, also add salt. Boil it until the squash is soft. Put it all in a blender and blend until it is smooth (you may have to do a few batches so you might need to have containers ready for the extra). Thats it! Add a little fresh black pepper to the top and enjoy.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,831 Member
    Use tomato to cut the sweetness. There are lots of recipes online for butternut and tomato pasta sauces. In particular, look for ones that use tomato paste, which is not at all sweet. Just google 'butternut tomato paste recipe' and you'll find a bunch of suggestions.
  • blondie_mfp
    blondie_mfp Posts: 62 Member
    http://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2015/10/01/creamy-butternut-squash-mac-and-cheese-with-kale/

    I haven't tried this particular recipe myself, but everything else I have made from her site has been fantastic.
  • pannacottayum
    pannacottayum Posts: 96 Member
    I fill a small pot with largish chunks of squash, 1.5c of coconut milk, onions, garlic, and a large chunk of ginger. Simmer until the squash is soft and "furry". Pull out the large chunk of ginger when done. I'll eat it like so as a side dish, or top with green onions and cilantro, or mix in pulled chicken, shrimp, whatever.
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